World News: Kevin Durant leads USA men's basketball to another gold

Saturday, August 7

Good morning, friends. The Tokyo Games are just about at their finish line. With only select sports set to conclude their showings in these Olympics, the U.S. men's basketball team was the latest to finish on top.

The Americans edged France on Saturday to claim their fourth consecutive gold medal, which was a feat in meeting expectations as much as it was in dispatching foes. Their gold-or-bust victory at these Games can be credited to Gregg Popovich. Kidding. But Popovich started scheming isolation basketball to allow Kevin Durant to do Kevin Durant things. That paid off.

It hasn't been a bad summer for NBA champion Jrue Holiday, either.

Their female counterparts will look to win gold next with a title game vs. Japan on tap Sunday. They've been far more dominant without an Olympic loss since 1992 ("End of the Road" by Boys II Men was No. 1 on the charts then, in case you were wondering.)

Kevin Durant celebrates after the United States defeated France to win the gold medal.

Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

🥇 Major Team USA wins: The U.S. women's water polo team won gold for a third straight Games. U.S. golfer Nelly Korda became the first to win a major and gold medal in the same year. American Molly Seidel claimed a bronze medal in the marathon alongside two Kenyans. She became just the third U.S. woman to ever medal.

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🗞USA TODAY's inside scoop: Big moves by the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls in free agency make the NBA's Eastern Conference race wide open, insider Jeff Zillgitt writes.

👀 What everyone's talking about: Las Vegas Raiders DE Carl Nassib came out as gay earlier this summer and described a weight lifted off his shoulders in his first public interviews. "Has been good to not have to lie," he said.

😬 Controversy: A German coach has been kicked out of the Tokyo Olympics after punching a horse in modern pentathlon.

🦺 Safety measures: "This has been, as promised, a safe and secure Games," said Brian McCloskey, head of the Tokyo Olympics advisory panel, when discussing COVID-19 concerns. With one day to go in the Games, organizers announced 22 new cases to bring the total to 404 from pre-Games and airport testing and screening testing since July 1.